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Cat feces can end up in your garden when a cat decides all that tilled-up ground makes the perfect outdoor litter box. While it may seem OK because other manures are commonly used to enrich the soil, cat feces can be dangerous in a vegetable garden and should never be allowed. Cat droppings can continue to present a health hazard even when composted.

Parasites

The main problem with allowing cat feces in a vegetable garden is that cats carry parasites that may also infect humans. Roundworms and other intestinal parasites are deposited along with the feces and end up in the soil and on your plants. Toxoplasmosis is also a concern, especially for pregnant women; this parasitic organism can live in the soil for years and is known to cause serious birth defects. Children and people with compromised immune systems are also at significant risk from cat parasites.

Prevention

Keep cats out of your garden by fencing it, by using cat deterrents such as motion-activated sprinklers, or by hanging old CDs around to scare the kitties away. A layer of coarse bark mulch discourages cats from digging in the soft garden soil. When you work in your garden, wear gloves and wash your hands when are done. Wash all vegetables before eating them to remove any possible contaminants.